Key Findings: Insights into Effective Substance Use Prevention Messaging for Youth

To learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on youth substance use, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in partnership with Lake Research Partners and Metropolitan Group, conducted national online assessments, discussion groups, key informant interviews and an expert advisory group of youth and youth-serving advisors in 2021 and 2022. Online assessments were conducted with both youth-serving providers and youth ages 13–18 nationwide to assess the impact of COVID-19 on youth state of mind, knowledge and access to substance use prevention, messages, tools and resources. In conjunction with expert opinion and available literature, these data informed development of messages and resources to support youth substance use prevention. This report highlights a selection of quantitative findings from the national assessments as insight for healthcare, education and social service providers on effective approaches to substance use prevention conversations with the youth they serve.